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Bert Clay

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Bert Clay
Personal information
Full name Albert Henry Clay
Date of birth 7 May 1915
Place of birth Bendigo, Victoria
Date of death 30 April 1972(1972-04-30) (aged 56)
Place of death Fitzroy North, Victoria
Original team(s) Henty
Height 193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 94 kg (207 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1940–1951 Fitzroy 157 (48)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1951.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Albert Henry Clay (7 May 1915 – 30 April 1972) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL). His twin brother Ivor also played with him in the Fitzroy side.

In 1939, Bert and his identical twin brother, Ivor trained with North Melbourne under coach, Keith Forbes, but both missed out on the being selected in the final list and returned to Henty, NSW.[1]

Originally from the Hunter Football Club in the Lockington Football Association, Bert was recruited from Henty,[2] where he played in their 1937 premiership[3] and was runner up in the 1938 Albury & District Football League's best and fairest award (lost on a count back)[4] then won the 1939 award.[5] Clay played in Henty's losing 1939 grand final side against Brocklesby.[6]

Clay played as a ruckman and was instrumental in the club's 1944 Grand Final victory, rated by his opponent Jack Dyer as the best on ground.

Clay retired from VFL football at 36 years of age, after 152 games.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "1952 - FEET OF CLAY GOT HIM OUT OF A CRISIS". Sporting Globe. 6 February 1952. p. 13. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  2. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (4th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 108. ISBN 1-74095-001-1.
  3. ^ "1937 – Albury & District FL – Grand Final match review". The Henty Observer and Culcairn Shire Register. NSW. 17 September 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 1 September 2020 – via Trove Newspapers.
  4. ^ "1938 - BEST AND FAIREST PLAYER". Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW). 15 August 1938. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  5. ^ "1939 - Best & Fairest in Albury & DFL". Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW). 21 August 1939. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  6. ^ "1939 - Brocklesby win Mackie Pennant". Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW). 18 September 1939. p. 2. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  7. ^ "1951 - CLAY DECIDES TO RETIRE". The Herald. 30 July 1951. p. 10. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
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